Francia

Información por país

Francia

1. International Family Mediation

Family mediation, in France, is legally recognised, commonly implemented and encouraged by the State; it is recommended as an option in the French Civil Code. The French family mediator is a professional who must justify the State Diploma (the State Diploma of the family mediator).

The Association for Family Mediation (APMF) provides the list of the family mediators working in France and the list of the family mediation services which are its members. You can find a mediator or a service in your region here (website is in French).

The Fenamef is a non-profit association that combines more than 500 intervention locations across France: family mediation services, family and meeting places, training centres, workshops of co-parenting, intergenerational mediation location, family mediation in situations of ageing, school mediation, etc. Choose your area in the Family Mediation Services Directory to find organisations that provide family mediation near you (website is in French).

International family mediation is encouraged by the administrative and legal authorities to resolve international family conflicts. The Unit of International Family Mediation (CMFI) of the Bureau of the Union Law, International Private Law and Mutual Aid in Civil Matters provides mediation to parents committed to finding negotiated outcomes to conflict (website is in French).

2. International Legal Framework

1) France is a Party to the 1980 Hague Convention.

The 1980 Hague Convention: a multilateral treaty which provides procedural guidelines on the return of children and their protection in cases of international parental child abduction.

The 1996 Hague Convention: a multilateral treaty which determines jurisdiction, applicable law, co-operation in respect of parental responsibility and access rights, as well as civil and public measures for the protection or care of children.

Contact the Central Authority established in France for cases of dispute concerning cross-border parental responsibilities and rights of contact with children (operational languages: French and English).

3) France is a Party to the Brussels IIA Regulation.

Brussels IIA Regulation: a legal instrument of the European Union to help resolve family disputes involving more than one country, over divorce, all parental responsibilities and, in particular, the custody of children. Brussels IIA is a regulation applicable to all European Union Member states (except Denmark). The Regulation prevails over the 1996 Hague Convention in cases where the child’s habitual residence is within a European Union Member state (except Denmark). Please be aware that if a decision on access and/or custody rights is taken by a court from the European Union, the regulation foresees that a State Party to the 1996 Hague Convention must recognise the court decision.

Contact the Central Authority established in France designated under the 1996 Hague Convention for cases of dispute concerning cross-border parental responsibilities and rights of contact with children (operational languages: French and English).

4) France is a Party to a number of bilateral agreements.

The List of bilateral agreements concerning all parental responsibilities includes deals made between France and the following countries: Algeria, Benin, Brazil, Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Niger, Portugal, Senegal, Chad, Togo and Tunisia (website is in French).

AIFI is a transcontinental francophone association offering help to separating parents (website is in French). Select France to find specialised professionals (choose only one profession per search).

The Secours Catholique-Caritas France is a non-profit organisation that supports parents including single parents (website is in French). The association provides food aid, financial support, administrative actions, access to law, etc. You can contact the organisation here.

The National Women Solidarity Federation (FNSF) is a network of feminist associations that denounces violence against women, particularly domestic violence. For situations of violence, please contact directly the FNSF here or find an association involved in your area here (website is in French).

International Women Legal Information Rhône-Alpes (FIJI-RA) is an association that defends the rights of women in international family law (website is in French). Expert lawyers in private international law address issues related to marriage, divorce, parenting, child abduction, adoption, etc. They offer a hotline and individual counselling to people.

Paseo Association, a member of Home-Start Worldwide, is a non-profit organisation providing home-visiting and practical assistance to young families experiencing difficulties. Its volunteers offer free-of-charge and confidential support to parents. You can contact their office in Nimes here (website in French).

4. Child Welfare Services

The Defender of Rights is an independent State institution which promotes and defends children’s rights. You can contact the 397 delegates of the Defender of Rights if you feel that the rights of a child are not respected or that a situation involves the interests of the child (website is in French).

5. Support to Bi-National Couples, Cross-Cultural and Migrant Families

The Secours Catholique-Caritas France is a non-profit organisation that has a support centre for asylum seekers and refugees (CEDRE). The specially created structure initiates and submits files of asylum migrants and is located in Paris (website is in French). You can contact the organisation here.

In case of parental child abduction, please contact 116 000, a European hotline supporting missing children and families with free and immediate psychosocial, legal and administrative support 24/7. 116 000 is part of Missing Children Europe, a federation of 31 supporting structures in 27 countries of Europe. In France, 116 000 is a public service.

The hotlines of the Comede are intended for individuals, associations and professionals for access to care and the rights of exiles (website is in French).

Expatica is the international community’s online resource for English-speaking expatriates across Europe. Expatica provides a tailored local news service and essential information on living, working, and moving to your country of choice.

Useful brochures / Documents of reference:

Useful guides for parents concerning mediation practice and child abduction prevention can be found in our Library.